Doll Collecting the UFDC Way

Doll collecting is a popular hobby, one that is often shared from generation-to-generation, creating memories that can last a lifetime. Sharing the love of dolls is a fulfilling pastime, and building your collection can be a lot of fun. Doll lovers can create a collection that is very simple to extremely diverse – there really is no limit – it’s all in what you like. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why people love doll collecting and the types of dolls they collect, and how they build their collections.

There are many reasons why you might choose doll collecting as your favorite hobby. Perhaps you had a favorite doll as a child that brings back good memories, or maybe you found a beautiful vintage doll in grandma’s trunk in the attic and it sparked your interest to find out more about dolls from bygone eras. Or maybe you found a wonderful doll at a garage sale that just ‘spoke’ to you. Whatever the reason, you discovered an interest in the world of doll collecting and your collecting has taken off.

It’s easy to get carried away with doll collecting, and many of us do, but oh, what fun it is! So how do you choose which types of dolls that you want to collect? There are so many types of dolls to add to your collection! Will it be paper dolls, such as the Betsy McCall dolls from the McCall’s magazine? Or will it be more traditional dolls, like Barbies? Perhaps you love vintage dolls from the Victorian era, Your interest in dolls can include a wide variety of different types of dolls.

Antique dolls are probably one of the most popular types of doll collecting. They are beautiful, unique, and sometimes quite rare, and can be very valuable. Dates of manufacture for antique dolls usually range from about 1800 through the early 1900s but can sometimes be earlier. A collection of antique dolls can really add to the ambiance of a home that is decorated in period furnishings. Historical dolls from every country and culture and from different time periods create a wonderfully diverse collection, as do dolls from a specific manufacturer in history.

Fashion dolls are also very popular and are very collectible. These dolls are unique in their trendy outfits from their time period, are great fun to collect, and are not expensive to acquire in most cases. You may enjoy sewing different outfits and there are numerous patternsavailable for all types of fashion dolls – American Girls, Barbie, vintage and antique dolls. It can be a lot of fun finding the materials and other items to create authentic looking outfits for your dolls.

It will benefit you to be aware of a few of the basics of doll collecting, ranging from how to value and identify them, to learning how to protect and preserve your dolls. You may also want to learn their value for insurance purposes if you have invested a lot of money in your doll collecting endeavors. You can identify your doll and learn it’s value at sites like this one.

Even if you bought your first doll on a whim, if you decide to start collecting, it’s important to inspect the dolls you buy to make sure it’s authentic, and of good quality and not damaged. This applies in particular to antique bisque dolls, which can be very fragile.

Now that you have built a wonderful collection of dolls, you want to share them, so how do you do that? First, take pictures. Here is a site that gives great tips on how to photograph your doll collection.

Another wonderful way to share your collection of dolls is to join a doll club such as UFDC, or one of its many chapters. Find out how by clicking here. Or you can find information about how to start your own doll club here.

We hope you continue to love doll collecting as much as we do, and get years of joy from this popular pastime. You can join us on Facebook to share your love of doll collecting with others.